Croydon police said he was acting aggressively towards officers and armed officers were called in when the Met’s specialist dog unit was unable to safely restrain the animal.

But Shannon-Marie, who is studying animal care at Capel Manor College, Crystal Palace, wants to know why they did not sedate him instead of shooting him.

She says Blaze was not aggressive and would have only barked at the police if he thought they were intruders.

The 17-year-old said: “I had never seen him aggressive, the police need to understand he was protecting his home.

“I’m looking for answers from the police and just want to know why they did it to my dog and why they did not give him a chance.

“I’m heartbroken.”

Shannon-Marie Henery says Blaze had been in her life since he was nine weeks old and had helped her with her anxiety.

But now she fears she will go back to how she was before she had him.

She added: “I had problems with anxiety and would never be able to walk to the local shop and he helped me.

“He gave me the opportunity to look forward in life and he made me realise the outside world is not hard.

“I will miss going out and walking him and having such a loving caring dog there.”

“He used to sleep on my bed and the first night after he was gone was horrible.

“I just felt it was a dream and I just wanted to wake up and for him to be next to me.”

A boy arrested during the raid last Wednesday afternoon has been charged with aggravated burglary, five counts of robbery and five counts of possession of an offensive weapon in relation to four offences in Lambeth.

The 17-year-old boy appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court last Friday and is set to appear at Croydon Crown Court on February 7.

Ipsoregulated

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